IF you are already suffering withdrawal symptoms from the Olympics then you can still go for gold at a history exhibition celebrating local greats in the sporting world.

Leamington Spa Art Gallery and Museum is staging Going For Gold! to celebrate the sporting heritage of the Warwick district.

I didn’t know there were so many greats from the area.

It is described as a social history exhibition but it’s not without its artistic elements.

It includes photographs of the oldest tennis club in the world taken by local photographer Ray Spence and an imposing drawing of FA Ward, captain of Leamington Cricket Club from 1908-13, who kept detailed diaries of the club’s efforts including one that was “a farce.”

There are clothes worn by a female tennis player in the 1880s, including a long white dress and boots, which would look better for going out in than charging around a tennis court. Another str-ange garment is a blazer owned by Kenilworth-born marathon runner Basil Heatley, which looks like it was made rather rapidly.

There’s a great picture of a tennis tournament at Warwick from the mid 1930s, which apparently was the warm-up for Wimbledon for women players.

Leamington was also important apparently in the setting up of only the second oldest archery tournament, and there’s a picture of the boxing Turpin brothers, and a head guard worn by World Middleweight Boxing Champion Randolph Turpin.

As a reminder of the sporting past, there’s a pair of cock-fighting spurs from the late 18th century and also crowds watching the hunt meeting in the Pump Room Gardens in the 1950s.

There’s also a lot of information to read about current sports men and women who are still successful or have recently been in their chosen sports.

It’s an interesting exhibition, but for those who’ve overdosed on sport this summer there’s always the wonderful Leamington permanent collection in the main gallery space next door.